Farewell to Criminal Police Veteran Aleksas Siutilas (1946–2026)

A farewell ceremony. A heavy silence hangs over those gathered. People, clustered into small groups, shift from foot to foot. The usual words — "condolences" and "we remember" — are spoken. Yet everyone wishes to say something real, something that would not become an empty sound.

After all, each of us understands perfectly well: we are speaking of a veteran who is no longer among us. The word "recently" was the last link that directly connected us not only to him, but also to that time. And now this link has broken. "Just recently…" became "He was…".

On Wednesday, June 17, criminal police veteran Aleksas Siutilas (1946–2026) passed away.

He left unexpectedly, quietly.

"Just recently…" — by chance or by design, the veterans of our circle would meet him in various places around the city, at various events. And he was always positive: businesslike, full of inexhaustible energy, always hurrying somewhere, informed about all the events of the city and the police.

Perhaps his professional intuition, honed over long years of work in the criminal police (1969–2011), whispered to him that he had to hurry to accomplish everything he had planned in this life. Each of his days was full of important deeds and events that held great meaning for him. It was during this period that Aleksas fulfilled his long-held dream — he published a small book, "Shots in the Night. A Biographical Sketch of Aleksas Siutilas", into which he gathered material from his personal archive.

Over his long service, A. Siutilas distinguished himself as a highly qualified specialist with a firm professional ethic, integrity, and pronounced leadership qualities. He investigated and organized the investigation of especially serious and high-profile crimes, and contributed greatly to strengthening public safety.

Aleksas Siutilas was laid to rest at Lėbartai Cemetery, block 145, plot 132. This is now the address of his eternal rest. May the earth rest lightly upon him, and may his memory be eternal. In this simple, old phrase lies the most heartfelt wish, one he truly deserved.